There’s a newcomer to this season’s top
10 that wasn’t anywhere close to a national ranking last
year. Le Moyne, No. 6 in the latest IWLCA Division II poll, went
9-6 last season and didn’t qualify for the postseason. Of
course, that was in Division I.

Four years ago, the Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference (MAAC) dropped all associate programs, forcing Le
Moyne’s women’s lacrosse and baseball teams to play as
independents. After a few years playing national schedules, a
consulting firm was brought in and the decision was made to move
the teams to Division II and the Northeast 10, where the rest of Le
Moyne’s squads play.

The Dolphins played teams like Stanford, La Salle
and Florida last year, but the early season ranking was
unexpected.

“We were surprised,” said coach Beth
Hewitt. “We haven’t proven anything to anyone, so we
don’t really follow those that closely. Obviously it’s
what we’re striving for, but I care more about finishing
there than starting there.”

Le Moyne was picked to finish second in the
Northeast 10, behind Adelphi, a team that proves Division II
isn’t always a downgrade.

“Everyone is always 'Oh Division I vs.
Division II,’” Hewitt said. “It’s not.
Everyone thinks Northwestern, but we were a smaller school playing
in Division I and we held our own. I think there’s a lot of
teams that could do that.”

Hewitt looks at the move as a benefit, especially
because of the NE-10 affiliation, the rivalries and potential
automatic NCAA bid that come with it.

The Dolphins open the season Friday against East
Stroudsberg and then hit the road for three straight road games,
including a spring break trip to Florida, before hosting Adelphi on
April 23.

Said Hewitt: “We know we’re the
Division I team moving to Division II. We know there will be a
target on our backs. We don’t feel like we’ve earned
anything yet. That’s what this season will be about. Earning
our way into Division II.”

Limestone moves up

The deja vu Limestone will feel this weekend might
get a little eerie. After starting off the season with two wins
over local opponents, the schedule got scarier this week with two
games against top-10 teams. Both from the PSAC. Both out of Erie,
Pa.

The Saints (3-0) backed up their No. 4 ranking with
a 12-9 win over No. 7 Mercyhurst on Thursday. Ninth-ranked Gannon,
which has opened up with two wins over Conference Carolinas
opponents, comes to town Saturday.

After crushing conference foes Erskine and St.
Andrews Presbyterian by a combined score of 39-4 to start the
season, Limestone had to work a little harder against Mercyhurst.
Sophomore Chelsea Treat led the way for the Saints, who led 6-1 at
halftime, with five points. The Saints held on to win 12-9.

After Gannon, Limestone continues its quest to
conquer Pennsylvania with games against Shippensburg and No. 5 West
Chester.

Adelphi reloads

How good is Adelphi? The two-time defending NCAA
champion Panthers defeated Rollins 21-9 in their season opener last
week. For some perspective, the U.S. U19 national team, which is
made up mostly of future, high-level Division I players and
defeated Division I Jacksonville, beat Rollins 12-8. Rollins has
been no slouch this spring, winning its three other games by a
combined score of 64-10.

Furthering Adelphi’s chances for a three-peat
are some high profile newcomers, including freshman attacker Devan
Crimi, who had four points against Rollins en route to being named
Northeast 10 Rookie of the Week, and sophomore defender Kate Ciaci,
who transferred from Florida and was a two-time All-American at
Northport High School on Long Island.

The Panthers host Philadelphia next weekend, then
face the first real test of the season at Limestone on March 23.
The non-league schedule also includes road games against local top
10 schools Dowling and C.W. Post. Post is the only team to beat
Adelphi since 2007.

Until proven otherwise Adelphi, which was voted No.
1 unanimously in the latest IWLCA poll, remains the heavy favorite,
and the speculative question becomes not how well they will do in
Division II, but rather how well they would do in Division I.

Post looking to threaten

Two-time Division II champion C.W. Post handed
Adelphi its most recent loss, 21-16 late last season. But three
weeks later, the Pioneers were eliminated by Adelphi in the NCAA
semifinals.

According to the pollsters, Post should again be
Adelphi’s top rival. The Pioneers are second in the latest
IWLCA poll and were again picked to win the ECC. Post also has the
early favorites for the individual awards, with junior Ashley Olsen
was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and junior Chelsea
Donaldson the Preaseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Post opens its 2011 schedule at home Wednesday
against Georgian Court. The Pioneers will host Adelphi on April 22
and have a good lead-in with non-league games at Stonehill and home
against West Chester the week before.